 A visit to this fertile upland region, just over 100km from Sydney, reveals genteel townships, charming old villages, rolling farmland, and the contrasting rugged wilderness of Morton National Park. The area is also famous for its parks and gardens, antique shops and craft galleries. If you have a day or two to spare, we suggest you continue south-west to visit Canberra and the ACT.
Day 1: SYDNEY - BOWRAL - MOSS VALE
Take the turn off to Mittagong where you can pick up maps and information on the area from the useful Southern Highlands Information Centre. From Mittagong, travel towards Bowral, the region's largest town. Bowral is the ideal place to shop for crafts and antiques, and enjoy a good range of restaurants and cafés. Other attractions include parks and gardens, the spectacular view from the top of Mount Gibraltar, and the town's highlight - the excellent Bradman Museum.
Founded way back in 1829, Berrima is Australia's best preserved Georgian settlement. The town is full of old sandstone buildings, art and craft galleries, antique shops, and enticing cafés and you can even ride on a restored Cobb & Co stagecoach. Make sure you visit the 1820s Surveyor General Inn, Holy Trinity Church and Berrima Courthouse, which is also the local tourist information centre. Return to Bowral and then onto Moss Vale for the evening.
Overnight in Moss Vale
Day 2: MOSS VALE - WOLLONGONG - SYDNEY
The attractive town of Moss Vale is the ideal base for your Southern Highlands visit. The highlands here include the Cecil Hoskins Nature Reserve, many antiques and crafts shops, and an excellent golf course.
The charming old village of Bundanoon is the gateway to the dramatic cliffs, escarpments, valleys and forests of Morton National Park. If you're feeling energetic, there are some wonderful bushwalks here - varying from short and easy to very challenging. The eastern section of Morton National Park is accessed from Fitzroy Falls, where there's an information National Parks and Wildlife Service Visitor Centre, and some short, easy walks that lead to stunning views of the falls and the park's dramatic scenery.
If you have time, drive down over the escarpment, via Kangaroo Valley, from where you can return to Sydney via the Princes Highway. This route passes the scenic towns of Berry and Kiama, and it's also possible to drive through the beautiful Royal National Park just south of Sydney. |
